Thread: Hook size ?

What hook size do you use?

found this while doing my "research" interesting.....

http://fishlab.nres.uiuc.edu/Documen...0al%202003.pdf

I match the hook to the bait I'm using. For gills, I'm generally using maggots, so that means dry fly hooks from #14 to #20.

I skimmed the article you posted. IMO, it misses the mark on deeply-hooked fish. Bite indication is the key, not hook type or size.

Most people use huge bobbers that stick half way out of the water and wonder why fish swallow the hook. It's because floats like this are very poor bite indicators. I've been using the European-style floats exclusively for over 15 years. With them, you see bites very quickly so the fish don't have time to swallow the hook.

Originally Posted by deathb4disco

I match the hook to the bait I'm using. For gills, I'm generally using maggots, so that means dry fly hooks from #14 to #20.

I skimmed the article you posted. IMO, it misses the mark on deeply-hooked fish. Bite indication is the key, not hook type or size.

Most people use huge bobbers that stick half way out of the water and wonder why fish swallow the hook. It's because floats like this are very poor bite indicators. I've been using the European-style floats exclusively for over 15 years. With them, you see bites very quickly so the fish don't have time to swallow the hook.

Ever try the old ''Porcupine Quill Bobbers''?

Originally Posted by NIMROD

Ever try the old ''Porcupine Quill Bobbers''?

No, I use peacock quill or balsa wood. I don't doubt that porcupine quill would also work well, particularly if it is shotted correctly so that a minimum amount of tip is above water. The design (long and thin with the shot at base of float) is more important than the material, IMO.

If I'm fishing for bluegill I usually use a size 6 hook. For crappie with minnows, usually a size 4 for smaller minnows and a size 2 for larger minnows.

Festus size 6 seems pretty big to me for Bluegill. The ones mentioned 6 thru 2 for crappie are plenty big enough. I use 12 threw 18 for bluegill. I Never use minnows for crappie. Tubes only. Minnows is for people who have problems catching crappie any other way. Artificial is the only way to go.

Originally Posted by Ken Jones

Minnows is for people who have problems catching crappie any other way. Artificial is the only way to go.

We've been through this before:


Crappie Tube versas Live Minnows?


Let's not do it again. There are many good fishermen who use live bait.

I have never tried the circle hooks ..... might give them a try

Originally Posted by Ken Jones

Festus size 6 seems pretty big to me for Bluegill. The ones mentioned 6 thru 2 for crappie are plenty big enough. I use 12 threw 18 for bluegill. I Never use minnows for crappie. Tubes only. Minnows is for people who have problems catching crappie any other way. Artificial is the only way to go.

Ken, I use artficials like 2" grubs and tube jigs on 1/32 and 1/16 oz leadheads more than minnows. Usually if I'm using minnows I'm relaxing and just don't want to keep casting over and over. Betcha I caught a ratio of 4 crappie on artificials to 1 crappie on minnows this year. And the bluegill I catch are usually around 9" to 10" long. If I used hook sizes 12 to 18 on bluegill, they would swallow it.

Maybe I misunderstood this thread. Was this hook size for using artificials or live bait?

Festus I'm sorry I misunderstood. I appologize on my comment. I fished down in Arizona with my cousin who lives their and he took me fishing. He used minnows and I stayed with my Artificials. Sad to say I out fished him in his own fishing waters. Presentation was the key for me. He would throw out and let the live minnow do its thing. He was fishing with a set depth with his bobber. I used a slip bobber set up so I could adjust to what ever depth I wanted. I used Tubes only.